Ex drug addict from Sutton caught out on fishing trip

Court Reporter

An ex-heroin addict was caught with cannabis while on a fishing trip to Derbyshire in a car he was banned from driving, a court has heard.

David Armstrong, 48, of Stoneyford Road, Sutton, admitted driving while disqualified and without insurance, as well as possessing the Class B drug when he first appeared at Chesterfield Magistrates’ Court.

David Miles, prosecuting, said a member of the public had called the police after spotting Armstrong driving a blue Rover in Tansley, near Matlock, on May 30.

The court heard he was disqualified from driving until 2018.

Mark Stocks, mitigating, said: “He has a long history of offences, the vast majority of which are for dishonesty - which relate to stealing stale food from bins behind supermarkets and the like.

“His entrenched use of heroin has led to very significant health problems from which he is unlikely to recover.

“He has put heroin misuse behind him. He went away for a weekend of fishing.”

At Mansfield on Tuesday Armstrong also admitted failing to attend post-sentence supervision meetings on April 7 and 19 and June 17.

He told Mansfield magistrates he had been ill but had been unable to get a sick note from his doctor.

He owes the court £1335 in fines and costs which he is repaying from his benefits.

Mr Stocks warned magistrates that Armstrong would lose his home if he was jailed for more than 13 weeks.

He was sent to prison for 49 days and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £115. His driving ban was extended by 24 days.